Galliford Try to upgrade Long Reach sewage site

Galliford Try has been awarded a contract worth more than £28M by Thames Water to upgrade Long Reach sewage works in Dartford. The contract will be carried out in joint venture with Biwater and Mott MacDonald. The project includes constructing aeration lanes, a final settlement tank, electricity substation, sludge storage building and blower house as well as modifications to existing facilities.

Due for completion in 2012, the work is part of a £40M project to help clean up the River Thames, by providing additional treatment processes to improve the quality of treated effluent returned to the river.
Greg Fitzgerald, chief executive of Galliford Try, said: "We are delighted to strengthen our relationship with Thames Water by securing this important contract that is additional to the projects carried out through our existing framework."
Thames Water's £40M upgrade at Long Reach is part of a major scheme to help improve water quality in the River Thames, helping improve water quality in the Thames. Additional treatment processes will be provided at the works to improve the quality of treated effluent returned to the River Thames and to meet new Environment Agency standards.
The improvements will also enable the plant to generate more renewable energy from the sewage treatment process, enough to power half the site.
Steve Shine, Thames Water's chief operating officer, said: "These improvements will help clean up the River Thames for all those who use and enjoy it, as well as improving conditions for fish by increasing oxygen levels.
"We will reduce odour at Long Reach by installing new technology and covering up the smelliest parts of the plant."
The upgrade is part of a £675M programme to modernise and extend London's five major sewage treatment works to increase the sewage each site can treat.
Long Reach is due for completion in 2012, and the improvements will enable the site to deal with increased sewage resulting from population growth until 2021.